The University of Queensland (UQ) has opened a new building at its St Lucia campus that could harbour the key to Australia’s net zero emissions potential.
The Andrew N. Liveris Building is 11 storeys high, covering 2,000 square metres of teaching space and 480 square metres of laboratory space within the university’s School of Chemical Engineering. Designed by architects Lyons and M3 Architecture, it is now the tallest building on campus.
World-class facilities within the building will help researchers to reduce the impact of the building industry.
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The University of Queensland
A spokesperson for M3 Architecture said the design concept was to create a physical environment that would reinforce the school’s strength – “outwardly open and transparent, and inwardly intense and focused.” Glass-walled research laboratories of the Andrew N. Liveris building allows visitors to spectate research as it happens.
“The idea for the exterior of the building is the confluence between chemical engineering and the campus itself – a campus with stoic sandstone origins becoming increasingly glass with each new building addition,” said M3 Architecture.
The Liveris building is expected to support thousands of students from across the university.
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The University of Queensland
Vice chancellor professor Deborah Terry said the building is not only an example of smart architecture; it also houses the essential facilities that will support research to address the country’s sustainability challenges.
“This building […] cements the vital work happening across the University to help lead Australia towards a more sustainable future, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050,” Professor Terry said.
The building will be used by thousands of students across the university for its equipment, allowing researchers to safely test reactors, x-ray machines and lasers.
The Andrew N. Liveris building was named after a distinguished chemical engineering alumnus who donated $13.5 million to the establishment of the new research space.
The building opened on 13 April 2022 and the university expects it will be fully operational by the end of the year.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
